Ranking the Dallas Cowboys top three defensive concerns

What are the top defensive concerns for the Dallas Cowboys heading into the season?

Despite the Dallas Cowboys fielding one of the top statistical offenses in the NFL last season, America’s Team was unable to post a record better than .500. And some may assume that’s due in large part to their defensive deficiencies.

After all, new head coach Mike McCarthy replaced every single top coaching position on that side of the ball, most notably the hiring Mike Nolan as his defensive coordinator. Yet, McCarthy elected to retain first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

But the fact is the defense actually played better than most give them credit for in 2019. The Cowboys had the ninth best defense in the NFL last season when it came to total yards allowed (5,232). And they allowed just 20.1 points per game to opposing offenses, the 11th lowest scoring average in the league.

Dallas ranked 10th in passing defense allowing an average of 223.5 yards through the air. And they ranked 11th against the run, allowing 103.5 rushing yards per game in 2019. Out of the Cowboys’ eight losses last season, four of those contests were decided by four points or less.

Still, there are some pressing concerns when it comes to the defense entering the new season. And that’s mainly due to some significant losses suffered during free agency. Specifically, the exodus of starters in cornerback Byron Jones, defensive end Robert Quinn, and safety Jeff Heath.

Losing those three defenders to free agency and how the Cowboys chose to address their absence is at the heart of the team’s three biggest defensive concerns heading into the new year. In the following pages, we’ll attempt to rank those issues, starting with the biggest concern.